Freshman Erik Vendt became the nation's fastest miler on the eve of Halloween with a brilliant 14:54.30 1650-yard freestyle clocking to highlight the second day of the Trojan Invitational at the USC Olympic Pool in Los Angeles.

On a picture-perfect weekend in the City of Angels, Vendt's time is not only No. 1 nationally for the 1999-2000 season but a pool record too, breaking the old mark of 15:10+ by former SC All-American Dan Jorgensen from the mid'80s.

Trojan coach Mark Schubert, also a co-head coach for the U.S. Olympic Team to Sydney, cautioned against reading "too much" into Vendt's great time. &QUOT;Obviously I'm pleased with the swim but he's got a lot of work ahead of him.&QUOT;

Vendt also finished third in the 400 IM with a pr 3:54.59.

The winner of the IM was former Arizona All-America Chad Carvin, now training with Bill Rose at Mission Viejo, who went a 3:51.69. Runner-up was Hungarian Tamas Kerekjarto (3:51.88) in his first exposure to a yards competition. Kerekjarto was a medalist at this summer's European Championships in the individual medley and is a strong contender for a berth on his country's Olympic Team.

He's training at Troy with another Hungarian, Bela Szabados, who was a mainstay of SC's frestyle corp the past several season but who has now graduated.

Triple backstroker world-record holder Lenny Krayzelburg splashed to easy wins in fine early-season times of 48.26-1:44.84, with Troajn Swim Club teammate and Atlanta 200 back gold medalist runner-up Brad Bridgewater (48.96-1:45.21) with age group sensation Aaron Peirsol of Irvine Novas third (1:49.29).

On the women's side, wins by freshman Michaela Kwasny in both IMs (1:59.37 - 4:14.31) highlighted the competition, as was a 2:15.55 triumph in the 200 breast by former SC All-America (and multi NCAA champ Kristine Quance-Julian).

While her winning time (2:15.55) is nothing startling Schubert said it was one of her best unshaved efforts ever and added that she'll definitely be a factor in vying for an Olympic berth in the IMs andthe breaststrokes come the Trials next summer at Indianapolis.

Quance is married to former SC All-America flyer Jeff Julian, and the couple recently had their first child, Trenton.

Obviously motherhood has agreed with Quance-Julian and rumors abound that Schubert has set aside a scholarship for Trenton for the 2019-2000 season. There's also rumors the kid's already doing doubles -- in the family bathtub.